On the afternoon of Thanksgiving, Thursday November 22, ETA Anna Misenti hosted a potluck event at her school in the spirit of the American holiday. Students were asked to bring a small dish to share, and Anna brought several cakes to celebrate the event. Although these were not “traditional Thanksgiving” dishes, the Indonesian-style Thanksgiving feast was a hit with the 25 students who participated.

Following the feast, Anna gave a presentation on the holiday’s historical roots and how it is celebrated in America today. The students actively asked questions during the presentation and discussed similarities with holidays in Indonesia. Afterward, everyone enjoyed making “hand turkeys” together, a craft where you trace your hand, write things you are grateful for inside the drawing, and decorate it like a turkey. This craft prompted good conversations between students as they shared their drawings with their peers. Then students were free to do a variety of activities with Thanksgiving vocabulary – word scrambles, word searches, and read a worksheet about wild turkeys. The event ended with much laughter, as the students headed home shouting “Happy Turkey Day Miss Anna!” as they exited the school.

Anna Misenti is currently teaching at SMAN 1 Padangsidimpuan, North Sumatra